Refrigerant control device



Nov. 26, 1935.-

J. ASKIN REFRIGERANT CONTROL DEVICE Filed July` 21, 1934 Gttorneg Patented Nov. 26, 1935 REFRIGERANT CONTROL DEVICE Joseph Askin, Buffalo, N. Y., assignor to Fedders Manufacturing Company, Inc., Bualo, N. Y.

Application July 21, 1934, Serial No. 736,397

4 Claims.

This invention relatesto control valves for use in refrigeration systems, and it has particular reference to valves of the thermostatic type.

1t has heretofore been recognized in valves of 5 this type that expansion of the refrigerant and the attendant freezingtemperatures in the valve 'itself caused various failures or inaccuracies, chief among which was the contraction yo1 the actuatingiiuid in the thermostatic element, with A the resultant failure to develop suflicient vapor pressure to operate the valve mechanism. To alleviate this condition, it has been proposed to throttle the refrigerant at the outlet of the valve by means of a fixed orifice in order that expansion of the refrigerant be prevented until it has passed the valve. This expedient succeeded in overcom.

ing-the thermal problem, but at the expense of seriously impairing the volumetric capacity of vthe valve. "v In the present invention, a thermostatic Valve is provided, in-which,` after the refrigerant has been metered under the control of the thermostatic element, it is retained at a relatively high l pressure until it is delivered to the valve outlet. v -'I'his is accomplished without aiecting the volumetric capacity of the valve by providing a restriction of a variable characteristic in the out-- let passage, such restriction being responsive in its extent to the opening movement of the metering valve, so that/ substantially constant and relatively high 4pressures are maintained in the delivery chamber of the valve at all rates of refrigerant delivery. l

A ,practical embodiment incorporating these principles is more specicially described and shown in the accompanying specification and drawing, wherein: y'

Fig. 1 is a vertical section through the thermostatic valve; and Fig. 2 is atop view thereof with the cover removed and the diaphragm partially broken away to show the runderlying valve' structure. As illustrated in the drawing, the thermostatic ,valve is provided with a cylindrical body I0,

,145 which is formed with diametrically opposed inlet threads. 'reduced in diameter to provide an annular clear- 25 Ation between the seat 35.

The diaphragm is secured in position by a4 cap 20, which is internally threaded to engage the flange I1 an'd which is also formed' with a shoul- 'der 2| for receiving an annular gasket 22, which engages the diaphragm. A second and similar gasket may be interposed between the diaphragm and flange I1. The internal portion of the cap, thus enclosed by the diaphragm, may, if desired, form a portion of a thermostatic element, and it is herein termed an expansion chamberv 23 which communicates with an expansion bulb B through a connecting tube 24. The elimination of the bulb B may be resorted to if it is desired to use the valve as a regulation expansion valve.l 15 A valve unit 25 controls fluid communication between the valve chamber I6 and the pressure chamber I9. The unit includes a guidejmember 26 formed with a threaded extremity 21 which is screwed' into an axially disposed tapped hole 26 20 connecting said chambers. A bevelled ange 29 on themember- 26 engages the end wall of the chamber I6 to prevent leakage through the The adjacent cylindricall portion 3| is ance with the wall of the chamber I6, and its extremity is formed with a diametrical slot 30 which may be engaged by a screw driver.

The'gude member 261s axially drilled to provide an opening 32 entering the chamber I9, and 30 a counterbore 34 into which is pressed a valve l seat 35. A cylindrical metering valve 36 is slidably mounted within the counterbore 34, and its upper extremity isformed with a frusto-conical head 31 adapted to engage the seat 35, While its 35 remaining extremity is formed with a reduced shoulder 38 forming a spring seat. The member 26 is radially drilled adjacent the seat, as indicated by the numeral 39, to provide communica- A flanged nut 4I closes the lowervextremity of Vthe passage I6, and it is formed to receivea packing 42 and a gland nut ',43.` The gland nut 43 in turn is internally tapped to receive an ad- 45 justingscrew 44, which is engaged by the packing andwhich protrudes into a spring chamber of the device by manipulating the'screw 44. To

chamber I6 andthe l'valve 40A insure against leakage in the event of failure of the packing 42, a cap nut 49 is threaded over the end of the nut 4 I A lever 59 is disposed radially inthe chamber I9, and its central portion is received between lugs 5I which may be formed as an integral part of the body I0. A pin 52, engaged through the lugs and lever, serves to provide a horizontal pivot for the lever. The inner en d of the lever is formed with a head 53 coinciding with the axial line of the body and serving as a coupling between the valve head 3l and the diaphragm, while the remaining extremity of the lever is formed with a vertically disposed tapped hole 55.

A valve 56 of the disc type is formed with a threaded stem 51 which is adjustably received in the tapped hole 55 of the lever. This valve overlies a hole 58 which connects the'low pressure chamber I9 to the outlet passage I2. It will be noted that when the valve 36 is in closed position, as shown, the remaining valve 56 is disposed in slightly spaced position from its seat, which is indicated by the numeral 60. T-his relative positioning of the valves is easily obtained in assem'- bly before the diaphragm is mounted, by first adjusting the stem 5I from above, and finally by `locking it to the lever 50 by applying a drop of solder in the tapped hole.

In operation, the valve may be coupled in a refrigeration system in a similar manner to any valve of this general type, that is, the 'input pasliquid refrigerant-is directed into the chamber` sage II is in communication with the condenser 0r high pressure side of the system, While the passage I2 is connected to the evaporator or low` pressure side of the system. The bulb B is secured in intimate thermal contact with the evaporator and the fluid charge which it contains responds to the superheat of the evaporator, resulting in the transmission of vapor pressure to the expansion chamber and the corresponding expansion of the diaphragm. The diaphragm, in

pressing down on the lever head 53, unseats the valve 36, and, through thev pivotal action of the lever, also opens the valve 56 to a greater degree. During` the above described opening movement,

I9 under high pressure, whence it escapes through the hole 58 to the outlet passage I2. It will be noted that the valve 56 offers a restriction to the escape of liquid refrigerant from the chamber I9 and that the extent of such restriction is proportional'to the axial opening movement of the valve 36. As a result, relatively high pressures are maintained, and any substantial expansion of the refrigerant in the chamber I9 is prevented. Inasmuch as the temperature in this chamber is roughly inversely proportional to the pressure therein, it will be understood that relatively high temperatures will be maintained in the chamber I9, to the end that the expansive fluid in the overlying chamber 23 will be protected from rapid cooling in the presence of the refrigerant, and will thus respond Without exterior hindrance to the temperature of the evaporator.

It willfurther be observed that the restriction, due to its control by the diaphragm, varies with the volume of liquid delivered through the valve 36 to the pressure chamber I9, and accordingly maintains a substantially uniform pressure in the chamber I9, regardless of the rate of fluid flow. This result is particularly desirable, as the presence of uniform pressures and uniform temperatures on the lower face of the diaphragm permits an accurate control of the valve 36 d1- rectly by the expansive uid in the bulb B".

It will be obvious that various modifications may be made in the mechanical linkage between the valves and in the specific type and relative disposal of the valves Without departing from the scope of the invention, as set forth in the following claims.

I claim:

1. In a refrigerant valve, a body containing a pressure chamber and inlet and outlet passages entering said chamber, a metering valve in the inlet chamber, a valve for restricting the area of the outlet passage, a thermostatic element having an expansive portion mounted in the chamber, and means operated by the expansive portion for opening both valves.

2. In arefrigerant valve, a body containing a pressure chamber and inlet and outlet passages entering said chamber, a metering valve in the inlet passage, a seat therefor in the inlet passage, resilient means for retaining the valve in seated position, a valve in the outlet passage, a pressure responsive element disposed in the chamber, a mechanism mounted in the chamber and having .a portion formed to couple the element and said means in the chamber for mounting the lever for pivotal movement adjacent its central portion, one extremity of the lever being formed to connect the element to the metering valve, and a valve in the outlet passage secured to the re" maining extremity of the lever, said lever being operable by the element to open both valves.

4. In a refrigerant valve, a body containing a pressure chamber and inlet and outlet passages entering said chamber, a metering valve in the inlet passage, a seat therefor in the inlet passage, resilient means for retaining the valve in seated position, a pressure responsive element disposed in the chambena lever pivotally mounted-in the chamber and having one extremity formed to connect the element and valve, and a valvein the outlet passage, said,valve being adjustably secured to the remaining extremity of the lever whereby it may be adjusted to a substantially; closed position when the metering v alve is seated, said lever being operable by the element to open both valves.

, JOSEPH 'ASKIN. 

